No extra guards, but Pasco schools take other security steps

Pasco County school district officials have not rushed to add armed officers to every elementary school. But they are taking other measures to make sure they're less vulnerable to an attack from the outside.

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One change was easily noticed upon entering schools on Monday: The office staff are more vigilant about checking identification tags for district employees. Superintendent Kurt Browning called for that action last week in an email to all staff.

"I am requesting that all staff visibly display their district-issued identification badges at all times," he wrote. "This will help ensure that only authorized staff and visitors are on our campuses and in our buildings."

Just one thing, some workers responded quickly: Not every employee has been issued a badge just yet, they said. The district is working to rectify that situation.

What are some other ways than armed guards that you're seeing schools step up their safety efforts?

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.